Marking machine



Se t. 12, 1933- P. E. TARLTON MARKING MACHINE Filed July 8, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Pin: 15 75x 4 70/) A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 12, 1933. P E, TARLTQN 1,926,355

MARKING MACHINE Filed July 8. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 39 65 Q E p 76 INVENTOR. K54 1: i fiezra/v A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 12, 1933. w P TARLTON 1,926,355

MARKING MACHINE Filed July 8, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 12, 1933. TARLTON 1,926,355

MARKING MACHINE Filed July 8, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR. F471: 5 7772.4 ra/y ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-,-

- Application July s, 1931. Serial No. 549,354 14 Claims. (01. 101 -336) My invention relates to machines for delineatingupon objects, particularly fruit, a suitable indicium or suitable indicia and is more especially related to electric fruit marking machines of the general type shown in the United States Letters Patent Number 1,421,292 issued to'Louis Neuenschwander and of the general type disclosed in my Patent Number 1,658,468 issued February 7th, 1928. I

In such machines there is provided an electrically heated die adapted to engage with an object to be marked, such as a fruit, to impress or delineate upon the fruit an indicium corresponding to the configuration of the die. In marking some objects it is desirable to apply ink to the die prior to the marking operation and although an inking ribbon has heretoiore'been used for this purpose it has not been satisfactorily'fed nor does it have a suiiicientlylong life.

It is,- therefore, an object of my invention to provide a marking machine'in which there is utilized an inking ribbon capable of extensive re-use.

' Another object of my invention is to provide a marking machine in which the inking ribbon affords a uniformity of result.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a markingrnachine in which the inking ribbon is fed uniformly to the die. 1

[A furtherobject of-my invention is in general to improve marking machines of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned patents. V V

The foregoing and other objects are attained in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, in which 1 V Figure 1 is a side elevation of a'marking machine constructed in accordance with my inven- 7 tion, particularly showing the inking mechanism in association with so much of the remainder of the marking machine aswill serve to identify the shown part in my abovefmentioned patent. V

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the ribbon advancing mechanism.

is indicated by the line 33- of Figure 4. d

Fig. 4'is an end elevational view of the mark ingmachine. v f a r Figure 5- is a cross section, the plane of which is'indicated by the line 5-5 ofFigure 1. a Figure 6 is an end elevation of the pawl engagingthe'ratchet wheel with the pad arm shown in longitudinal cross section.

; Figure 3 is across section, the plane of which cycle. I

Figure 7 is a crosssection on the line 7-7 of Figure '6.

Figure 8 is a cross Figure 1. 1

Figure 9 is a crosssection on the line 99 of Figure :3.- p In'its preferred form,

section on the" line 8 8 of ribbon located adjacent the die and adapted to contact-the die to effect an inking operation incorporated with means for advancing the ribbon a predetermined amount'for each inking operation. V v As particularly shown in Figure 1, the marking'machine includes a shaft 6 carrying a'disc having a plurality of dies 7 at the periphery thereof. Each of the dies is a relativelyplanar structure provided with indicia 8 thereon in relief. In the operation of the machine the shaft 6 rotates in order to contact the successive dies with fruit or other objects to be marked, as indicated in'my above identified patent. 'In the present instance it is deemed advisable to provide each die '7 wih ink prior to the'rnark ing operation and to this end I preferably situate adjacent the die 7 a pad arm 9 which, at one end is loosely mounted 'on a shaft 11 carried by the marking machineof -my invention comprises a die together with a resilient material such as alternate layers of rubber'and cork. The pad 12 is adapted to abut or substantially to abut whichever one of the dies 7 is in suitable position therefon- In .order to urge the pad arm 9 resiliently toward the die 7, I likewise fix on the shaft llby any suit-' able means such as a set screw-13, a crank arm 14 which is secured to an eccentric strap 16'encom-passing an eccentric 1'7 driven by a shaft 18, The shaftf18 is synchronized with the movement of the shaft 6 in accordance with the disclosure of my co-pending application entitled Fruit marking machine, filed July 8, 1931 with Serial No. 549,355. ment of the shaft 6 to bring-a successive die 7 into lowermost position, as shown in Figure. 4, the shaft 18 makes one complete revolution and therefore reciprocates the arm 14 through one In order that the movement of the arm 14 may be resiliently effective upon'the pad arm- 9; 1 preferably mount on the shaft 11' to move therewith a frame 21 usually of cast metal whichis provided with a receptacle 22 to receive a coil spring 23' theother end of which abuts the under side of the pad arm 9. The frame 21 likewise carries a stop pin 24 for limiting the relative movement of the pad armand the frame 21. During the rotation of the eccentric 1'7 the frame 21 reciprocates in unison with the reciprocation of the arm 14 and through the spring 23 resiliently urges the pad arm 9 toward the die '7. When the pad arm or the pad 12 encounters a superior resistance, the spring 23 is compressed to permit completion of the cycle of the eccentric 17. Return movement by virtue of continued rotation of the eccentric permits the pad arm 9 to move away from the die '7 and permits the spring 23 to expand forcing the pad arm 9 against the stop pin 24. For each step of ad vancement of the shaft 6 the padarm and pad 12 approach and recede from the lowermost die 7.

In order that ink may be deposited on each die '7 I preferably provide an inking ribbon 26 which preferably at one end is wound upon a reel 27 mounted on a pin 28 fastened to a standard 29 forming part of the machine framework and at the other end is wound on a reel 31 carried by a spool 32 rotatably mounted ona stud 33 projecting from an upright 34 forming part of the machine framework. The ribbon 26' is spirally wound upon each of the spools and is adapted to be transferred from one spool to the other spool. Initially a full spool of ribbon is placed on the stud 28 and is threaded overa support arm 36 extending from the upright 29 and carrying a suitable guide 3'7. The ribbon then extends around a similar guide 38 on an upright 39 of the frame 34 and terminates on the spool 31 having passed between the pad 12 and the die '7 or in other words, being interposed therebetween. In order to place a tension on the-ribbon 26 and to prevent unwarranted rotationof the reel 2'7 1 preferably provide a brake including a lever 41 pivoted asat 112. to the upright 29 and carrying guide ears 43 for ensuring alignment ofthe ribbon and likewise a projection 44 to. furnish additional weight.

Since 1 preferably advance the ribbon 26 in accordance with the movement of the arm 9 or substantially in accordance therewith I preferably provide, the frame 21 with a pair of de: pending ears 46 pierced bya pivot pin 4'7. Depending from and rotatably mounted on the pivot pin 4'7 is a block 48 transversely pierced to carry a pin 49 on which a pawl 51 is mount: ed. Preferably, the pawl is fabricated of a metal sheet suitably formed to provide at its lower extremity a pair of guide ears 52 and a tooth 53 while at its upper end is located an extension 54 for abutment against a coil spring 56 seated in a cavity 57 in the block 48 to urge the tooth 53 into contact with a'ratchetwheel 58. The ratchet wheel. 58 is mounted on a shaft 59 journalled in the upright 34 which likewise carries a guide 60 adjustably mounted as at 62 so thatinitial movement of the pawl 51 causes the tooth to ride over the guide 60 and after leaving the guide to be pressed into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 58. By suitably adjusting-the guide60 the amount of advance-- ment of the ratchet wheel 58-for each cycle of movement of the pawl 51 can be regulated. Retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel is prevented by a spring pressed pawl 61.

Mounted on the shaft 59, which is rotated by the ratchet wheel 58, is an eccentric 63 contacted by a reciprocating yoke 64 pivoted as at 66 on the uprights 34 and having a pair of exthe flange 92.

tending arms 6'7 and 68, the latter of which is pierced by a plurality of apertures 69, '71 and '72. As the frame 21 reciprocates by virtue of the action of the eccentric. 1'7 the pawl 51 intermittently advances the ratchet Wheel 58 the desired amount and rotates the eccentric 63 so that the yoke 64 is likewise reciprocated. A connecting bar '73 is provided at one end with a pin '74 adapted to be seated in any one of the apertures 69, '71 or '72 and at its other end is provided with a pin '76 adapted to be located in any one of several apertures '77 in a lever '78 mounted on a shaft 79 piercing and journalled in the upright 34. To assist in holding the bar '73 in adjusted position a leaf spring 81 is fastened as at 82 to the bar and is provided with free ends abutting the arms 68 and '78. By

1 suitably disposing the connecting bar '73 the ra-- tio ofangular movement between the yoke 64 and the arm '78 may be adjusted as desired to give therequisite oscillationto the shaft '79.

The shaft 79 in emerging from the opposite side ofthe upright 34 forms a mounting for a lever 83 at its lower end carrying a fork 84 held by a pivot pin 86. The fork at its free extremity is provided with a tine 8'7 which is enlarged to bear against the" roll" of ribbon 26 on thereel 31 and with a tine 88 which carries pivotally a friction finger 89 having a curved cam surface ,91 adapted to contact and engage frictionally one of the flanges 92 of the reel 32. The finger 89 is urged by a coil spring 93 to rotate so that its cam surface 91 is in tight engagement with A pin 94 on the tine 88 serves as a stop for the finger 89. The entire fork 84 is urged to cause the tine 8'7 to contact the ribbon on the reel 31 by a coil spring 95 the upper end of which is fastened to a bracket 96 carried bythe upright 34. Preferably the periphery of the other flange 9'7 of the reel 32 isIprovided with a succession of serrations or notches 98 which are engaged by a pawl 99 pivoted asat 101 to the upright 34 and urged into contact with the serrations by a coil spring 102 secured to the upright 34. Fastened to the pawl 99 is a follower 103 lying between the flanges 92 and 97in the path of ribbon winding spirally upon the reel 31. As the shaft '79 is oscillated the arm 83 is likewise reciprocated causing, the fork 84 to advance and retreat with respect to the flange 92. The reel 31 being rotatably mounted, advancing movement of the fork 84 causes the finger 89 to slide over the flange 92, since the frictional engagement of these parts tends to cause retrograde movement of the flange 92 and the flange 9'7 whichis impossible by virtue of the pawl 99.. However, the spring 93 is sufliciently'resilient to permit the finger 89 to rock slightly about its pivotal point and reduce the friction between the finger and the flange 92. Upon retreating movement of the arm 83 and return of the fork 84 toward its original position, the spring 93 urges the finger 89 into tight on the reel. Although the ribbonis advanced at a constant rate, the energizing movement is not imparted to the ratchet wheel 58 during the time the pad arm 9 approaches the die 7 and the ribbon 26 is stationary during its contact with the die 7.

The ribbon is thus advanced from the spool 27 toward the spool 31 until such time as the ribbon on the spool 31 abuts the follower 103 and lifts the pawl 99 out of engagement with the serrations 97. Since the pawl does not then make mandatory a relative sliding movement between the finger 89 and the flange 92, thefinger is substantially locked thereto for both directions of movement of the fork 84 and the reel 31 is oscillated between relatively narrow limits without advancing the ribbon. The full reel of ribbon can easily be removed by suitably operating a lever 106 which withdraws a pin 107 against the urgency of a spring 103 and provides a free passage for removal of the reel 32.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the form of the marking machine shown and described herein, as the invention,

as set forth in the following claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

I claim:

1. In a marking machine, a die, a ribbon ad: jacent said die, a reel for advancing said ribbon with respect to said die, a reci procable pad arm for effecting contact of said ribbon and said die, and means connected to said pad arm for actuating said reel to advance said ribbon at a constant rate.

2. In a marking machine, a die, a ribbon adjacent said die, a reel for advancing said ribbon with respect to said die, a reciprocable pad arm for effecting contact of said ribbon and said die, and means connected to said pad arm for actuating said reel to advance said ribbon intermittently at a constant rate.

3. In a marking machine, a die, a ribbon adjacent said die, a reel for advancing said rib-- bon with respect to said die, and a pad arm adapted alternately to eifect contact of said ribbon and said die and to advance said ribbon at a constant rate.

4. In a marking machine, a die, a ribbon adjacent said die, a reel for advancing said ribbon with respect to said die, and a pad arm adapted intermittently to effect contact of said ribbon and said die and to advance said ribbon at a constant rate.

5. In a marking machine, a die, a ribbon adjacent said die, means for periodically effecting contact of said ribbon and said die, and means for advancing said ribbon at a constant rate past said die when said ribbon is out of contact with said die.

6. In a marking machine, a die, a ribbon, means for periodically effecting an inking operation by mutually contacting said ribbon and said die, and means for advancing said ribbon at a constant rate for each inking operation.

7. In a marking machine, a die, a pair of reels,

a ribbon connected to both of said reels and ribbon and said die, and means engaging one of said reels for advancing said ribbon at a constant rate for said inking operation.

8. In a marking machine, a pad mounted for movement, a reel, a ribbon connected to said reel and disposed adjacent said pad, means for moving said pad to contact said ribbon for effecting an inking operation, and meansconnected to said pad arm for advancing said ribbon at a constant rate for said inking operation.

9. In a marking machine, a pivoted pad arm, means for periodically moving said arm, a pad on said arm, a ribbon adjacent said pad and adapted to be periodically contacted by said pad to effect inking operations, and means connected to said pad arm for advancing said ribbon at a constant rate for each inking operation.

10. In a marking machine, a die, a pivoted pad arm, means for periodically moving said padarm toward and away from said die, a ribbon interposed between said die and said pad arm, and means for advancing said ribbon at a constant rate for each cycle of movement of said pad arm. 1

11. In a marking machine, a die, a pivoted pad arm, means for periodically moving said pad arm toward and away from said die, a ribbon interposed between said die and said pad arm, and means for advancing said ribbon at a constant rate for each movement of said pad arm away from said die. 7

12. In a markingmachine, a die, an inking ribbon, a reciprocable pad arm for pressing said ribbon against the die, ribbon advancingmeans,

and means moving in time with reciprocation of means to advance the ribbon a predetermined equal amount'for each reciprocation of the pad arm;

13. In a markng machine, a die, a reciprocable pad arm for pressing anainking ribbon against said die, a ribbon reel, means rotated in time with the reciprocation of said pad arm, and reciprocating .means engaging said ribbon reel for advancing said ribbon a predetermined equal amount for each rotation of said rotated means.

14. In a marking machine, a die, a, padarm adapted to reciprocate toward and away from said die, a pad on said pad arm, a pair of reels, a ribbon engaging said reels and interposed between said die and said pad, a ratchet wheel, a pawl on said pad arm engaging said ratchet wheel, and a reciprocating arm engaging one of said reels and driven by said ratchet wheel.

YPERLE E. TARLTON. I 

